[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 40 (Wednesday, March 3, 2021)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E198]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        CELEBRATING WWII VETERAN KENNETH COOPER'S 100TH BIRTHDAY

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. J. LUIS CORREA

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, March 3, 2021

  Mr. CORREA. Madam Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the 100th 
birthday of WWII Veteran Kenneth Conrad Cooper, who served in the 
United States Navy from 1942 to 1981. After a full military career, 
Navy Captain Cooper retired as an Air Wing Commander.
  Born March 12, 1921, to Clarence and Ruby Cooper, Ken was raised in 
Pomona, the western anchor of California's citrus-growing region known 
as the ``Queen of the Citrus Belt.''
  Ken was part of the Orange Empire legacy, having been born and raised 
on a citrus ranch. He grew up working in the groves and well remembers 
the sweet scent of citrus blossoms and the sooty smoke of the smudge 
pots that were lit to save the orange trees from frost.
  With a mother who was a public school teacher, and later a principal, 
Ken was a good student who followed in his mother's footsteps to become 
a lifelong educator.
  Ken remained in the Pomona area to attend Chaffee and La Verne 
colleges. While in college his love of flying took wing and he earned 
his pilot's license and became an instructor. Then WWII happened.
  With his civilian flight instructor background and the urgency of the 
war at hand, he joined the United States Navy and immediately began 
training young pilots. A short time after his entrance into the 
service, he began flying the large DC-6 and DC-7 transport planes.
  It was during these tumultuous times that he met a Navy nurse, 
Shirley, who became his wife. At the end of the war, he and Shirley 
settled back in the Orange Empire.
  Ken became an elementary school teacher. During his many years in 
education, he advanced from classroom teacher to principal of both 
elementary and junior high schools. At the end of his career, he was 
assistant superintendent of the same school district he attended as a 
child.
  These were busy years for Ken. Along with raising a family of three 
children with Shirley, while moving up the ladder in education, he also 
was chairman of the Pomona Planning Commission, president of the local 
Kiwanis Club, and president of the Pomona Teachers Association.
  He maintained his passion for flying by participating as a Navy 
Reserves ``weekend warrior.'' While doing all of this, he earned a 
Master's degree at Pomona College and attended the Naval War College, 
thereby continuing his military advancement.
  In retirement, his drive did not diminish. He and Shirley maintained 
additional homes in both Mexico and Palm Springs, where he pursued his 
passion for golf. It was also during this time that he and his wife did 
a great deal of traveling, mostly on cruises. This wanderlust took them 
all over the world, from Asia, Alaska, Europe, South and North America, 
and the Caribbean, to name a few.
  Later they moved to Walnut Village in Anaheim, where Ken participates 
in veterans celebrations in full uniform.
  Please rise with me to salute this good man who has devoted his life 
to family, community and country. Happy 100th with many more birthdays 
to come.

                          ____________________